Copperplate finished in a dead heat for 4 th, beaten just four lengths, in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday afternoon. He broke well out of the gate, but so did a couple horses to his inside. As a result, he was never able to get over toward the rail and remained 4-5 wide throughout. He stalked the leaders, Rexton, Passo Doble and eventual winner Stacked Deck, down the back stretch. Coming out of the turn, Rexton and Passo Doble had faded while Stacked Deck had gotten the lead. Danny Vella said at that point, that Copperplate was really the only horse that tried to take a shot at the winner, while the others appeared to just be running to hit the board.
Unfortunately, the wide trip and being the only horse to push Stacked Deck, ultimately cost Copperplate a placing. Passion for Action rode the rail nearly the entire race and got up for 2nd. Goodoldhockeygame rallied from way back to beat Copperplate out of 3 rd place by about a neck. The final time of 1:08.34 was just 0.18 seconds off the track record, so we are quite pleased with Copperplate’s effort. He was the only horse in the race that hadn’t previously run in a stakes race and we feel like he acquitted himself quite well. We also feel like he has a very bright future in front of him at Woodbine next year. In fact, Stacked Deck made his stakes debut in this same race last year and finished sixth.
